The Irish Software Industry 1989-2008: An overview of its ...

The Irish Software Industry 1989-2008: An overview of its development. Conor Moynihan841119-p276cjm1020s@gmail.com School of ManagementM.Sc. of Business AdministrationMaster Thesis Contact InformationAuthor: Conor MoynihanAddress: Corran, Waterfall, Near Cork, Ireland.E-mail – cjm1020s@gmail.comUniversity Supervisor: Philippe RouchySchool of Management, BTHDepartment of Business AdministrationSchool of ManagementBlekinge Institute of TechnologyBox 520SE-372 25 RonnebySweden AcknowledgementsI would like to begin by thanking my supervisor Mr. Philippe Rouchy for the choice of topic, and for his guidance throughout this thesis. The direction and motivation he gave me was invaluable for its completion. I am truly grateful for his feedback and literature review assistance.Secondly I would like to thank Mr. Anders Nilsson, Dean of the School of Management for the working environment he provided for us at BTH and for the decisiveness he has shown at crucial stages of this student's work process.Finally I am thankful to all the staff at BTH and in particular the librarians whose help was immense during my time in Sweden. Karlskrona, August 08Conor Moynihan AbstractThe case of the software industry in Ireland is particularly interesting as it is a unique example of a government led innovation in attracting and fostering the development of a knowledge based industry. Using a previous work of Eileen Drew (1994) as a starting point it tracks the growth of the industry in the 1990’s and into the 21st century during a boom period in the Irish economy known as the Celtic Tiger. Growth is measured by macro-economic factors such as employment and exports. In this 15 year period Ireland increased employment in the software industry from 8,000 to over 30,000 people and its software exports from 1 to 15 billion euro. The government’s influence is examined through the National Development Plans, The Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation 2006-2013 and by investigating the roles of the state sponsored bodies.Combining various secondary sources it gives a breakdown of the modern software industry in the areas of export, specialization, firm size and type. Ireland’s competitiveness and productivity environment is inspected. The thesis highlights industry problems including: 1. Lack of software graduates, 2. Over dependence upon foreign investment, 3. Inability of indigenous software companies to grow, 4. Loss of competitive advantage.While influencing factors such as geography and demographics, which contributed to the software industry’s success story are impossible to replicate, there are lessons to be learned of how a government led, innovative, consistent and educational based policies combined, with a business friendly environment, can be used to transform a struggling economy into a modern knowledge based one.Table of ContentsIntroduction81. A Review of the Software Industry Context Prior to 198912-22 Development of Information Technology in Ireland13 Software Industry Prior to 198914 The Role of State Sponsored Organizations 19 Education Setting the Seeds for Further Growth222. Software in Ireland 1990-2005: The Celtic Tiger 23-34 A Time of Change24 Growth of the Software Industry in the 1990s25 Contributory Factors to the Development of the Software Industry in Ireland29 The Software Industry in the 21st Century323. Role of Government in the Software Industry35-48 The National Development Plans36 Restructuring of the State Bodies38 Government Influences in the Software Industry40 Industry Associations464. The Software Industry in Detail49-64 A Break Down of the Irish Software Industry in 200550 Exports of Computer Services by Location 200551 Overview of Firms In the Software Industry53 Software Specialization55 Ireland’s Productivity and Competitiveness605. Problems, Profiles and the Future of the Irish Software Industry65-76 Industry Problems 66 Profiles of Companies in the Irish Software Industry70 The Future of the Irish Software Industry74Bibliography 77Appendices Appendix 1: Abbreviations 81 Appendix 2: List of Websites83 Appendix 3: List of HEA Funded Universities and Institutes84 Appendix 4: List of ISA Registered Companies.85 List of TablesTable 1.1: Growth of employment in the Irish Computing Industry between 1982-1988Table 1.2: Irish Computing Industry: division of turnover 1986 in £IRTable 1.3: Irish Computer Industry 1986 in £IRTable 1.4: Overview of firms in the software industry at 1987Table 1.5: Location of Irish software companies 1988 Table 1.6: Numbers trained on FAS electronics-related courses, 1983-1986Table 2.1: Average annual change in GDP 1989-2006Table 2.2: Employment in the software industry during the 1990sTable 2.3: Exports of the software industry during the 1990sTable 2.4: Export propensities of indigenous and foreign owned service firms 1995-1999 Table 2.5: Breakdown of Irish software goods exports by destination 1998Table 2.6: Population of Ireland from 1991 to 2006Table 2.7: Percentage population under 25 in the years 2010 & 2015Table 2.7: Migration Trends 1987-2007 Table 2.8: Precentage of population that has attained at least tertiary education. Table 2.9: Skilled workforce science and technology graduates per thousand in the 20-29 age group Table 2.10: Employment in the software and computer hardware industry in Ireland 1996-2006 Table 2.11: Exports of the software industry from 1997- 2005 Table 3.1: Programmes and policies from the ICT sector under the NDP 2000-2006 Table 4.1: The software industry in 2005Table 4.2: Computer services exports by locations 2005Table 4.3: OECD survey respondents classified by size of company (%of total respondents)Table 4.4: OECD Survey respondents classified by nature of company (% of total respondents)Table 4.5: OECD Survey - wholly Irish owned and foreign owned firms classified by sizeTable 4.6: Areas of software development in Ireland 2002Table 4.7: OECD survey respondents classified by core technologies (% of companies)Table 4.8: OECD survey respondents classified by non-core technologies (% of companies)Table 4.9: OECD Survey - Core and non-core technology companies classified by nature of investment (% of companies) Table 4.10: OECD Survey - Small-sized core and non-core technology companies classified by nature of investment (% of companies)Table 4.11:OECD Survey - Medium-sized core and non-core technology companies classified by nature of investment (% of companies)Table 4.12: Innovative enterprises as a total number of enterprises 2004Table 4.13: Patent applications to the EPO 2003Table 4.14: Number of enterprises engaged in high-tech manufacturing and knowledge intense services 2003Table 4.15: Gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a percentage of GDP/GNP 1996-2006Table 5.1: Labour cost per employee in private sector (% of increase) 2005-2008Table 5.2: No. of honours bachelor degrees awarded and projected to be awarded 2002-2010 List of FiguresFigure 1.1: Regional map of IrelandFigure 2.1: Education map of IrelandFigure 3.1: Forfás, its sister agencies and advisory councils Introduction Software can be defined as“both the instructions that direct the operation of computer equipment and the information, or data, that the computer manipulates”. (Schware, 1987)It can exist in many different forms. US researchers of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) have differentiated software products into 3 categories: 1- Prepackaged software: Prepackaged on the shelves software such as Microsoft products2- Custom Software: Such as SAP, software that are installed by consulting companies to clients.3- Own-account Software: These are the software that are designed for specific purpose and work for only one thing, like software in an ATM machine, software for reservation of plane tickets (in one company), software for electronic guidance systems in combat planes, software platforms such as “smart mobile phone software platform”.The story of the software industry in Ireland is unique in its success. A country 4 million, Ireland has become one of the major international players within the industry and software has become a key element of the Irish economy. This story is even more remarkable considering Irelands humble economic conditions during the majority of the 20th century. The growth of the industry coincided with Ireland’s economic awakening during the late 1980s and the 1990s, a period known as the Celtic Tiger. In the space of 10 years Ireland was transformed from one of Europe’s poorest countries to one of its richest. Riding upon the crest of foreign direct investment into Ireland (particularly from the US), the software industry came to providence. The industry was targeted for growth and nurtured by the Irish government, who saw knowledge intense activities mainly Information Communications Technology and pharmaceuticals as their economic opportunity. Irelands low corporate tax rate and low labour costs initially attracted mainly manufacturing activity and clusters began appearing around Ireland’s major cities: Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick. The Irish government continued to increase the skill levels of its population through investment in its education. The nature of activity in the industry became more knowledge intensive and skill orientated. Companies began to diversify out into more sophisticated areas such as supply chain management, localization, customer services, limited product development and engineering. Ireland became the natural choice for companies to locate their European headquarters and thus it has earned the nickname the “Silicone Valley of Europe”. This thesis examines this development starting from 1989, when the software industry was still in its infancy and the Celtic Tiger had yet to roar, and follows it through to today’s striving example of state driven economic development. It draws from a number of fragment sources to piece together an overview of modern Ireland’s software industry. It finishes by speculating on the future of the software sector in Ireland. MethodologyThis thesis is based primarily upon secondary data retrieved from various sources such as government publications, software industry associate bodies, Central Statistics Office, Central Bank, European statistical databases, United Nations reports, Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and any other relevant publication. The information was located and recovered using online searches. This information and statistics laid a solid foundation, while each source became another building block to construct the overview. Coupled with these online searches I also emailed various bodies with information and advice requests regarding the Irish software sector. This contact, while not providing a great deal of extra information, was immeasurable due to its allowance for interactions and clarifications which created a clearer more manageable view of the industry. On two occasions I travelled to Dublin to investigate the archives of the Dublin Business Library in Henry Street. Research LimitationsThe main problem encountered while constructing this thesis was the lack of precise and consistent records for the software industry. The figures for software are incorporated in computer services or incorporated as part of the larger definition of information communications technology in the national accounts of Ireland. While the National Software Directorate conducted detailed annual reviews of the industry during the 90s that organisation has been disbanded and the original reports were unavailable. Another problem with the measurement of software is that it may not always exist as a physical entity. Instead of constant and detailed information the thesis has been forced to draw from a patch work of various sources whose primary subject matter is not always the software industry of Ireland. This thesis attempted to weave these various treads together to form a clear picture of the overview and the development of the Irish software industry since 1989. Thesis StructureThe thesis is broken down into 5 chapters:1. A Review of the Software Industry Context Prior to 1989: Working mainly with a report called “Development of Information Technology in Ireland” by Eileen Drew (1994), this chapter reviews the development of the software industry prior to 1989, giving it’s historical development as well as macro-economic indicators such as turnover, software exports, the number of indigenous firms, the numbers of IT employees employed by the industry, the size of companies, their locations and government influences.2. Software in Ireland 1990-2005: The Celtic Tiger: This chapter begins by illustrating the growth experienced by Ireland during the Celtic Tiger, followed by the growth of the software industry during this time. It then briefly examines the contributing factors to this growth. The chapter ends with the software industries growth in the 21st century.3. Role of Government in the Software Industry: The focus in this chapter is on the Irish government’s role in the software industry. It reviews the government’s National Development Plans and its state agencies. It then shows the various industry associations that affect the software sector. 4. The Software Industry in Detail: This chapter pieces together scattered information from various sources to give an overview of the modern Irish software market. It presents a breakdown of the industry in 2005 and a breakdown of exports of Irish computer services by destination 2005. Followed by this, it presents some macro-economic indicators including size of firms, type of firms and software specialization in the industry. It draws a lot from an OECD mail survey completed in 2003 in Knowledge Intense Service Activities in the Irish Software Industry by Laura E. Martinez-Solano, Majella Giblin and Edel Walshe (2006). The chapter finishes by describing the current climate of productivity and competitiveness in Ireland by analyzing the 2008 Eurostat publication. 5. Problems, Profiles and the Future of the Irish Software Industry: The chapter begins by raising some of the problems facing the Irish software industry. After this it profiles some of the companies operating in the sector. This more qualitative approach is aimed at giving the reader a better feel for the industry. This chapter and the thesis closes by speculating on the future of the Irish software Industry. A Review of the Software Industry Context in Ireland Prior to 19891 Working mainly with a report called “Development of Information Technology in Ireland” by Eileen Drew (1994), this chapter reviews the development of the software industry prior to 1989 giving it’s historical development as well as macro-economic indicators such as turnover, software exports, the number of indigenous firms, the numbers of IT employees employed by the industry, the size of companies, their locations and government influences. “Development of Information Technology in Ireland”………………………………………………………… In 1989 Eileen Drew was commissioned by the United Nations University/Trinity College Dublin to write a report on the “Development of Information Technology in Ireland”. This formed part of a larger study published by The United Nations University in 1994 entitled “Information Technology in Selected Countries”. The countries assessed in the report were Ireland, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania. In all, the study included 36 participants in its preparation under the guidance of Eileen Drew and the project director F. Gordon Foster. Eileen Drew was the sole author of the country report on Ireland.In her report, after placing information technology (IT) in a historical and policy oriented perspective, notably in clarifying the Irish Governments perspective, Drew examines a number of sub-areas of the information technology industry in Ireland:1. The electronics industry. 2. The software industry. 3. The telecommunications infrastructure for IT.4. Manufacturing applications of information technology. 5. IT applications in the service sector. She also draws remarks related to the impact of Information Technology in the society at large. Notably, she looked at its impact on employment as well as on education and training of information technology around the country. Drew’s work on the development of the software industry provided an interesting area to investigate further in this thesis. Firstly, the history of Information Technology has moved on very quickly since Drew’s work. Furthermore it is also worth considering further the actual stage of the information technology industry development in Ireland from today’s perspective. In her report Drew provides a comprehensive overview of the industry, its historical development, and provides a number of macro-economic indicators incorporating the industry’s turnover, software exports, the number of indigenous firms, the numbers of IT employees employed by the industry, the size of companies and their locations. Irish Software Industry Prior To 1989…………………………………………………………………………….. Prior to 1989 the software industry, and indeed the computing industry in Ireland was still in its infancy but the Irish government set out to create the condition for economic growth in the country by clearly pursuing goals whereby IT was on the top of the list. The government by means of organisations such as the Irish Development Authority had already been setting the seeds of growth through actively and aggressively pursuing major computer companies and by persuading/enticing them to locating in Ireland. During the 1980s various companies that were courted by the IDA into locating in Ireland: Apple (1980), Fujitsu (1980), Wang (1980), AT & T (1982), IBM (1983), Lotus (1984), Microsoft (1985), Oracle (1987), Claris (1988) and Corel (1989). One of the major baiting tools used by the government at the time was having the lowest rate of tax on manufacturing in Europe at 10%. This also applied to a defined range of internationally traded services and was introduced since 1980 after an E.E.C. challenge on tax relief on all export profits. Various grant incentives and other tax reliefs were offered to further encourage foreign direct investment, particularly in the area of high-tech industries mainly computers and pharmaceuticals. Information technology was identified as a key growth sector in the 1970’s by the IDA, which invested heavily in the training of IT individuals. Ireland saw a doubling of it’s employment in the computer services industry between the year 1982 and the year 1987. In 1986 there was a 17% increase in demand for software specialists and a 16% increase in demand for marketing specialists in the Irish computer industry CITATION Eur87 1053 (European Computing Services Association, 1987). Growth of Employment in the Irish Computing Industry between 1982-1988 Number of employees 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 Table 1.1: Growth of Employment in the Irish Computng Industry between 1982-1988.Reproduced from Drew, 1994 Source European Computing Services Association, 1987.The whole computing industry had a turnover of IR£160 million (€203 million) in 1986 and of this the largest sector was the software industry with a turnover of €105 million. This accounted for 52% of the industry turnover in 1986. €40 million of this was generated from indigenous companies. Most exports of foreign computer companies were estimated to be in the area of software. Irish computing industry: division of turnover 1986 in £IR, Sales in millions Table 1.2: Irish Computing Industry: division of turnover 1986 in £IRReproduced from Drew, 1994 Soorce European Computing Services Association, 1987 Irish Computer Industry Exports 1986 in £IR, Table 1.3: Irish Computer Industry 1986 in £IRReprocuced from Drew, 1994. Source European Computing Services Association, 1987Because of the limited size of the domestic market, Irish firms tend to seek overseas sales at an earlier stage of their development than their counterparts in larger economies. CITATION Ent08 1053 (Enterprise Ireland) By 1988 there were 305 software companies registered with the IDA. Of these companies only nine had more than 50 employees. Of these nine, five were foreign owned. Of the remaining 296 indigenous companies dominated. They accounted for 73.7% (218 firms). Overview of firms in the software industry at 1987 Irish companiesForeign companiesTotalSize categoryNo.%No.%No.Medium (50-199 employees)444.4555.69Small (<50 employees)21873.77826.3296Total222 83 305 Table 1.4: Overview of firms in the software industry at 1987Reproduced from Drew, 1994. Source: Unpublished IDA data, July 1988. Location of Irish software companies. Regional Map Of Ireland RegionMedium companies% of medium firmsSmall companies%of small firmsIrish No.Foreign No.Irish No.Foreign No.Donegal 4 1.4East4377.8 1495970.3Midlands 9 3.0Mid-West 222.2 1255.7North East 2 0.7North West 2 0.7South East 5 1.7South West 241111.8West 1134.7Total (305)4510021878100 -9842540005 Table1.5 Location of Irish software companies 1988 Figure 1.1 Source: Regional Map of Ireland Reproduced from Drew,1994 Shows IDA gateways and hubs. These are areas of Unpublished IDA data, July 1988 encouraged growth. Retrieved from IDA website. As you can see from the IDA data table on the previous page the focal point of the software Industry is located in Ireland’s east coast – i.e. the greater Dublin area. This cluster accounts for 77.8% of all sized medium firms and 70.3% of small firms in the total industry. It is also where the majority of foreign firms in the industry have chosen to locate. There are some smaller clusters to the mid-west, south west and west. The IDA through its International Services Programme sought foreign direct investment in computer services, R&D services, healthcare, training services, and international financial services. During the 1980s the IDA shifted their grant incentive schemes to endorse more labour intensive initiatives. Although grants were still made available for capital projects including machinery and plants, grant aid was now focused towards areas such as feasibility grants, employment and training grants. In order for a company to be entitled to this state aid it had to provide an internationally traded service and be able to export it. As a result of this new policy, and a realization of the growing market for computer services, there has been a rapid increase in the number of start-ups among software companies, which are the seed for further innovations. Of the above 305 companies listed by the IDA, 158 (52 per cent) were established since the beginning of 1980. Of these, 100 (approximately one-third of existing companies) came into existence only since the beginning of 1985. This represents a considerable achievement, particularly in the small company category (Drew 1994). A quote from Nolan epitomises the feeling within the software industry at the time: “The total value of Irish software exports is estimated to be around IR£100 million and this is expected to double within five years. The prevailing mood in the Irish software industry is one of optimism, despite some closures of software houses. It is predicted that a greater emphasis will have to be placed on marketing, rather than solely on product development.” CITATION ANo87 1053 (Nolan, 1987) The Role of State Sponsored Organisations…………………………………………………………………………Up to 1989 there were 3 major state-sponsored bodies contributing to growth in the Irish IT and software industry. These were the Irish Development Authority (IDA), The Irish Science and Technology Agency (EOLAS) and Foras Áisleanna Saothair (FÁS – The Training and Education Authority). These were separate entities and were not bound by one specific IT plan for growth,but each reported back separately to the government or government minister responsible. IDA Ireland Mission Statement quot;
We will win for Ireland, its people and its regions, the best in international innovation and investment so as to contribute to the continued transformation of Ireland to a world-leading society which is rich in creativity, learning and personal and social well-being.We will work in partnerships with other organizations to enhance the best of Irish capabilities and talents and match them to the best of global investment.We will carry out our mission with integrity, professional excellence and responsiveness to all with whom we work or are in contact.quot;
The Industrial Development Authority (IDA)IDA Ireland is an Irish Government agency with responsibility for securing new investment from overseas in manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. It also encourages existing investors to expand and develop their businesses. It has existed since 1959 and is the oldest such organization in the world. CITATION Abo08 1053 (About Us: Irish Development Authority). Retrieved from About Us: Irish Development Authority 2008 During the late 70s it identified the Computer Industry as a target industrial growth sector. It aggressively sought out big multinational companies to first locate and then develop their European base in Ireland. It sought growth in skilled and sustainable labour areas. The IDA at the time had the power to provide various grant incentives (including capital grants, training grants and feasibility study grants) and also to undertake national and regional development plans which would then be government funded. The IDA could acquire large industrial sites to house further development and/or for the creation of business clusters. The Irish Science and Technology Agency (EOLAS)Established in 1977, EOLAS is a state-sponsored body, which since its inception has focused on the IT area. In 1981 it produced an extensive report into the Irish Computing industry entitled Microelectronics: The Implications for Ireland. It recommended active policies for the sustainability of the IT industry in general: ® the need to create awareness of IT among Irish industrialists and for expertise and facilities to be made available for this; ® funding at tertiary level of computer-related education and the extension of information technology appreciation into all secondary schools; ® pilot projects of IT applications in the public service. (National Board for Science and Technology, 1981) In 1985 it published a further report intended to act as a brochure for potential IT investors. This was entitled “Innovation. A Guide”. In this report EOLAS outlined various ways in which potential investors could benefit from the current business environment in Ireland e.g. IDA grant and tax relief methods. EOLAS also had the responsibility: 1. To provide technical advisory services to support the continued efficient operation of industry.2. To provide services designed to assist the growth and development of industry by the identification and provision of new technological investment opportunities. Foras Áisleanna Saothair (FÁS) Foras Aisleanna Saothair (it’s English name being The Training and Employment Authority) has been around in various forms since 1967. It has the stated aim of providing training in order to achieve national objectives. In 1987 FAS offered 8 various computer related training programmes. In 1986, 955 people received training through FÁS initiatives. The majority received training in electronic assembly. (see table below) Numbers trained on FÁS electronics-related courses, 1983-1986Table 1.6: Reproduced from Drew, 1994. Source: Unpublished FAS data, 1988. CourseYear1983198419851986Training Centres Division Electronic Assembly426504530604Basic Electronics9114712062Digital Electronics16395170AnCO Electronics63549754AnCO Microelectronics 1821Electronic Servicing 144833Introduction to Electronics65452657Electronic Assessment7811110354Total739914993955Total female350438464408External Training Division PCB Design and Layout 21Advanced Manufacturing Technology 1822Computer Hardware Engineering 23Component Research Technician 2046Micro Maintenance 10289Microprocessor System Design 2178Data Communications 6446Computerized POS Technician 23Microprocessor/Electronics 20 Total 245348Total female 938 There are a number of points which can be inferred from this table. The main areas of training are occurring in the manufacturing, services and the micro processing areas. It is male dominated with females only accounting for 34% of those trained in 1986 and 38% in 1985. Education: Setting the Seeds for Further Growth……………………………………………………………Education has always had a central role in society. The Irish Government was quick to realize that “knowledge is the primary resource for individuals and for the economy overall (see Drucker 1992)” and has invested heavily in its human capital. Second level education was made free in 1968 and compulsory in 1972. “We must invest in and support our greatest asset – our people and their innovation and knowledge” (About Us: Irish Development Authority) Third level universities and Institutes of technology are similar to second level education in being free. In the early 1970’s Ireland invested heavily in the creation of Regional Technical Colleges, which would later become Institutes of Technology to complement its university system. This saw a significant increase in the numbers of people attending a third level institution fulltime from 20,969 in 1965/66 to 69,988 in 1990/91 (CSO Statistics). Ireland’s human capital was one of the primary baiting tools in luring foreign direct investment and fueling growth in innovative industries. 2 Software in Ireland 1990-2005: The Celtic Tiger This chapter begins by illustrating the growth experienced by Ireland during the Celtic Tiger, followed by the growth of the software industry during this time. It then briefly examines the contributing factors to this growth. The chapter ends with the software industries growth in the 21st century. AVERAGE ANNUAL CHANGE IN GDP: 1989-1998 (%)AVERAGE ANNUAL CHANGE IN GDP: 1998-2006 (%) Ireland6.836.64U.K.1.962.76European Union (15 members)2.142.23United States2.532.83 A Time of Change………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Table 2.1: Average annual change in GDP 1989-2006Source: OECD Economic Outlook December 1998, Eurostat General Economic Background April 2008The Irish economy has undergone radical changes since the time that Drew’s report was published. Ireland is now one of the IT hubs of Europe. Many companies have chosen to center their European operations here including Intel, Yahoo, Oracle, Symantec, Adobe, Microsoft, HP, Apple, Google, Amazon.com and Palm. Ireland remains a favored area for investment for U.S. companies particularly in the area of IT. The case of Ireland’s economic growth in the last two decades is well documented. The country has gone through an unprecedented boom period in its history transforming its economic landscape. Over the past 15 years, Ireland has migrated from being an agriculture dependent economy to one which is firmly based on modern, knowledge based industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, information technology, financial services, shared services and so on CITATION Eur08 1053 (European Council Of American Chambers of Commerce). This boom period known as the “Celtic Tiger” began in the early 1990’s. Between 1990 and 1995 the economy grew at an annual growth rate of 4.8% and, between 1995 and 2000 it averaged 9.5% growth CITATION Ent06 1053 (Enterprise Ireland, 2006). Growth rates since then have remained in the 4-5% range until 2008. The Celtic Tiger has stopped roaring with the Ulster Bank Quarterly Update July 2008 predicting the economy to contract by 0.3% and to grow by only 0.5% in the following year. However in 2010 it is expected to be back on a par with the EU GDP average growth rate CITATION Uls08 1053 (Ulster Bank, 2008). The Growth of the Software Industry in the 1990s………………………………………………………………Software development has been one of the most rapidly expanding sectors in Ireland over the last two decades CITATION KPM08 1053 (KPMG). During the 1990s the software industry underwent immense growth. The pace of this growth was unique even in a thriving economy. By 2000 Ireland had become the European manufacturing and distribution center for the software of the world’s top software vendors accounting for over 40% of all packaged software and 60% of all business software sold in Europe. Ireland was also ranked first worldwide of software services exported CITATION Org02 1053 (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, 2002). The rising cost base and education levels of Irish labour meant that the nature of investment and production in Ireland also became more sophisticated. Building upon Ireland’s previous competencies and skill levels, manufacturing became more advanced. Newer entrants such as Dell Computer Corp. moved into areas of supply-chain management and localization for the European market. Software localization is adapting software to the culture of the target country so it can reach a greater audience. Existing firms began to expand the scope of their operations into areas including supply-chain management, customer services, limited product development and engineering. In many cases the original core manufacturing facilities almost disappeared. For example, Apple Computers in Cork shrunk to 15% of facility activity, replaced by the company’s chief European software development and support center. Ireland’s increasing costs made survival more difficult for manufacturing activities that were not either capital-intensive or high added value. CITATION Beg05 1053 (Begley, Delany, & O'Gorman, 2005) The high concentrations of ICT industries in Ireland also began to benefit from the cluster effect. Ireland has one of the highest concentrations of ICT activity and employment in the OECD. Clusters are located in Dublin, Cork, Limerick/Shannon and Galway. The growth of Ireland’s ICT sector is seen as a central driver in Ireland’s transition to a knowledge based economy. Employment In The Software Industry During the 90sYearEmployment19917,79319938,943199511,784199718,200199924,891 Table 2.2: Employment in the software industry during the 90s Source: National Software Directorates Annual ReportsIn the time period between 1991 and 1999 the numbers of people employed in the Irish software industry grew over 300%. This was over 4 times the national average growth for industries in Ireland during this period. Ireland became known as the Silicone Valley of Europe. Exports of The Software Industry During the 90sYearExports (€Million)19912,04419932,33919953,57019975,43619996,520 Table 2.3 Exports of the Software Industry during the 90s Source: National Software Directorates Annual Reports.Similarly, the export numbers for the software industry also grew by over 300% in the period between 1991 and 1999. Growth in exports had an annual average of approximately 30% (see table 2.3). Ireland is a small open economy and the software industry is geared to exporting, particularly in the computers and software sectors. Foreign owned companies are more export orientated than their indigenous counterparts as can be seen in the table 2.4. Between 1995 and 1999 they exported approximately 94% of their software development output compared to approximately 50% by indigenous companies. Export Propensities of Indigenous and Foreign Owned Services Firms19951996199719981999Indigenous Total Exports as a % of Output33.7%39.5%33.2%35.3%32.5%Indigenous Software Development47.4%46.9%45.6%51.9%47.6%Other Indigenous Computer Related Activity84.1%83.8%78.1%68.1%65.6%Foreign Owned Total Exports as a % of Output87.9%88.8%87.5%87.8%91.7%Foreign Owned Software Development92.7%93.7%93.7%94.1%93.5%Other Foreign Owned Computer Related Activity96.3%89.4%73.6%74.6%94.8% Table 2.4: Export propensities of indigenous and foreign owned service firms 1995-1999 Source: The Changing Nature of Manufacturing and Services, Forfás publication July, 06.In 1997 seven of the world’s top ten independent software companies (Microsoft Computer Associates, Lotus, Oracle, Informix, Novell, Sap and Symantec) had facilities in Ireland. In 1998 foreign multinationals represented 120 of the 760 companies. However they accounted for 83.5% of revenues and 87.6% of the sector’s exports. There were 21,630 people employed by the industry. CITATION Org00 1053 (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2000). Break Down of Irish Software Goods Exports by Destination 1998Table 2.5: Breakdown of Irish software goods exports by destination 1998 Source: OECD Technology Outlook 2002.On a note of caution, exports are overstated due to companies wishing to take advantage of Ireland’s low tax rate. Transfer pricing is another problem caused by this rate CITATION AFo91 1053 (Foley & McAleese, 1991). Transfer pricing is value placed on transfers within an organization, used as a means of allocating costs to various profit centres. Companies often abuse this to allocate profit to a lower tax region i.e. from the USA to Ireland. This abuse is illegal but inevitable as it is very difficult for a government to monitor.The reasons for the intense growth rate in the Irish economy and the software industry during the 1990s will be discussed in the following section. Contributory Factors to the Development of the Software Industry in Ireland…………………..The development of the software industry in the 90s was not a fluke but the combination of a number of contributing factors. Some are natural and some are a product of government policies aimed to nurture its growth. (see Ryan 1997)1. The English LanguageEnglish is the dominant language within IT giving Ireland a strong advantage over non-native speaking countries. As most of the major players in the software industry emanated from the U.S., Ireland held a natural advantage over many of its competitors for these investments. Percentage population under 25 in the years 2010 & 2015Country 2010 2015 USA 34.4 33.5 Ireland 34.1 33.2 France 30.4 29.7 United Kingdom 30.4 29.5 Netherlands 29.6 28.6 Europe 28.0 26.4 Hungary 27.0 25.6 Portugal 26.6 25.8 Czech Republic 26.1 24.3 Germany 24.9 23.4 Spain 25.1 24.7 Japan 23.3 22.1 2. A youthful population and a rapidly expanding labour supplyBetween the census in 1991 and the census in 2006 the Irish population grew by 714,129 to 4,239,848 people. This increase of 20.25% in just 15 years has helped sustain the growth in the economy. Ireland has the youngest population in Europe and is projected to maintain this advantage for quite some time. Census YearMalesFemalesTotal Population 19911,753,4181,772,3013,525,71919961,800,2321,825,8553,626,08720021,946,1641,971,0393,917,20320062,121,1712,118,6774,239,848 Table 2.6: Population of Ireland from 1991 to 2006Source: Central Statistics Office of Ireland. Table 2.7: Percentage population under 25 in the years 2010 & 2015 Source - Population division of the department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, Population Prospects: The 2006 Revision Estimated Population Migration (Thousand) by Country, Migration Flow, Sex and Year Both sexes198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007Rest of the World Net Migration-1.4-6.8-4.2-.7 1.71.4-.1-.1 -.91.22.84.114.51221.415.812.86.77.56.7Outward Migration5.410.210.07.64.45.55.84.96.66.86.65.69.510.09.58.511.410.512.715.819.0Inward Migration4.03.45.86.96.16.95.74.85.58.09.49.710.514.521.529.927.223.319.423.325.7 Higher Educational Achievement: % of population that has attained at least tertiary education Ireland 40.00 USA 39.00 France 38.00 Spain 38.00 Netherlands 34.00 UK 31.00 Germany 23.00 50805396230Ireland has also seen a reversal in its migration patterns (see table 2.7) with non-nationals contributing to the economic drive. It has become a land of opportunity, with 419,733 non-national residents accounting for approximately 10% of the population. Many of the Irish graduates who left in search of work during the high emigration years of the 1980’s have returned when the economic conditions in Ireland allowed, bringing with them their experiences.Table 2.7: Migration Trends 1987-2007. Source: Central Statistics Office of Ireland Database3. An emphasis on education.The government’s emphasis on education had been one of the decisive factors in the growth of the Irish economy and indeed the software industry.Figure 2.1 – Education Map of Ireland Source: Irish Development Authority Table 2.8: % of population that has attained at least tertiary education.Source - IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, 2007 Ireland has 7 universities and 14 institutes of technology, which shows the emphasis the government places upon technology and fostering its development in Ireland. The education system in Ireland produces over 35,000 graduates every year. Since 1992 there has been an increase of 35% in students studying third level engineering/ technology courses CITATION Hig08 1053 (Higher Education Authority of Ireland). 40% of the Irish population now attain at least a tertiary education. This is the highest rate within the E.U. Most of Ireland’s recent graduates have been in the areas of science and technology. Skilled Workforce Science and Technology graduates per thousand in the 20-29 age group. Ireland 23.2 France 19.6 UK 16.2 USA 10.2 Germany 8.2 Portugal 6.3 Netherlands 5.8 Table 2.9 Skilled workforce science and technology graduates per thousand in the 20-29 age group.Source: Eurostat 2003.Ireland produced over 48,000 graduates in 2004, and of these, almost 57% are graduates with a qualification in engineering, computer software, business studies and science CITATION Ent06 1053 (Enterprise Ireland, 2006). 4. Attracting Substantial Inward InvestmentThe Irish Development Authority has remained active and extremely successful in attracting foreign direct investment to Irish soil. This foreign investment has proved a catalyst for smaller indigenous ventures. The wave of investment continued from the late 1980s into the 1990’s. Ireland has always been orientated toward US investments. Nearly 50% of all US software investment locates in Ireland CITATION Sha07 1053 (Shannon Development, 2007). In addition to first time investments from Intel, SAP, Sun, Novell, and Dell, Ireland’s existing FDI base – including Microsoft, IBM, Accenture, Ericsson, Motorola, Apple and EDS - began to expand their operations. Eight of the top ten software suppliers in the world have operations in Ireland and it continues to be a leading European location for technology companies, as demonstrated by recent investments, such as Siebel, SAP, Net IQ and Adobe CITATION Iri08 1053 (Irish Development Authority). 5. Business friendly taxation and incentive schemesIreland has continued its policy of low corporate taxes despite protests from its European neighbours. Its rate of 12.5% is among the most competitive in Europe and was introduced on all trading income commencing on the 1st of January 2003. This was as a response to protests against the previous 10% taxation rate on all manufacturing and most export goods. All those eligible for this rate as of 22nd of June 1998 were still able to avail of it until 2005 (financial services) and 2010 (non-financial services). Ireland holds 44 double taxation agreements to ensure companies are not subject to tax twice on the same incomes. Ireland is also in negotiations to secure further double taxation agreements with the following countries: Argentina, Chile, Egypt, Kuwait, Malta, Morocco, Singapore, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam. The Software Industry in the 21st Century…………………………………………………………………………Employment in the Irish ICT sector rose rapidly through the 1990s, peaking at over 80,000 in 2000. It fell to approximately 64,000 over the succeeding three years as Ireland continued its transition into the knowledge based economy, and levelled off in 2004. It resumed growth in 2005 and 2006. Presently, the ICT sector employs 69,226 people representing around 8% of the Irish workforce – up 1% from the technology boom of the early 2000s. It has moved into higher value-added activities, and is again showing strong demand for people with high-level ICT skills. A greater share of ICT sector employment is now accounted for by people with high-level skills. CITATION Expor 1053 (Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, 2008) At the turn of the 21st century, Ireland’s now high cost levels saw many companies relocate manufacturing jobs to lower cost labour markets. The software manufacturing industry was going through a transition to higher-skilled, higher-value-added, innovative activities. Now new software investments in Ireland are more strategic, attracted by the higher education and adaptable work force, rather than their low cost. These new investments are characterised by Google, Yahoo Inc. and e-bay setting up their European headquarters in Dublin. While attracting new investment, the Irish government is also trying to encourage existing operations to move up the value chain through various support and R&D grant schemes. Employment in the Software and Computer Hardware Industry in Ireland Table 2.10: Employment in the software and computer hardware industry in Ireland 1996-2006Reproduced from Future Requirement for High-Level Skills in the ICT sector 2008 The following figures are related to agency supported enterprises only, however they represent the majority of the industry and are reflective of its makeup. In 2006, the software industry accounted for 27,411 jobs in Ireland; 15,866 of these were in foreign owned enterprise and the remaining 11,545 were in the indigenous software sub-sector CITATION Expor 1053 (Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, 2008). The industry reached its peak in 2001 with approximately 32,000 employees. It also surpassed the then declining computer hardware sector as the single biggest employment component of the ICT industry. The industry declined in 2002 and 2003 back down to approximately 26,000 employees. However, in the following 3 years it grew by about 1.5% each year. This decline was a reflection of a global decline in ICT at the time. Exports of The Software Industry From 1997 to 2005YearExports (million€)19975,43619996,520200110,000 approximately200314,000 approximately200515,000 approximately Table 2.11: Exports of the software industry from 1997- 2005 Source –National Software Directorate Annual Reports (97 & 99 figure)Irish Software Association Pre-budget Submission (01 figure) ICT Industry in Profile. Shannon Development 2004 (03 figure) Speech of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the Irish Software Association Annual Conference 2006 (05 figure). At the turn of the century, the software sector in Ireland was responsible for nearly 8% of Ireland’s GDP, and nearly 10% of its exports CITATION Hot01 1053 (HotOrigin, 2001). In contrast to the rise and fall of employment figures, the exports have steadily increased reaching an estimated €15 billion in 2005. €1.6 billion of this was attributed to the growing indigenous industry. The key markets for the indigenous industry were: USA 33%, UK 27%, rest of EU 15% and rest of world 25%. In 2004, the export propensities of indigenous and foreign owned companies engaged in software development had increased to 62.5% and 97.4%. 3 Government Role in the Software Industry The focus in this chapter is on the Irish government’s role in the software industry. It reviews the government’s National Development Plans and its state agencies. It then shows the various industry associations that affect the software sector. The National Development Plans…………………………………………………………………………………………This chapter is concerned with how Irish governmental policies affect the Irish software industry. For that matter, information is provided by the National Development Plans (NDP’s) of Ireland. The NDP of Ireland provides an outline of the government plans for economic and social development. It is a road map for the future with spending allocations, projects, goals and ambitions timetabled for development. The current NDP is entitled “Transforming Ireland – A Better Quality of Life for All” and is due to run from 2007 to 2013. It represents a total investment of €184 billion of public, private and EU funds invested within the following 5 key areas: ® Economic Infrastructure€54.7 billion ® Enterprise Science and Innovation €20.0 billion ® Human Capital €25.8 billion ® Social Infrastructure €33.6 billion ® Social Inclusion€49.6 billionThe plan is the largest and most ambitious investment programme ever proposed for Ireland. It is characterised by sustainable economic growth, greater social inclusion and balanced regional development CITATION Nat08 1053 (National Development Plan Office). The previous plan from 2000 to 2006 saw an investment of €57 billion. ® Economic and Social Infrastructure€26.2 billion ® Regional Programs€9.1 billion ® Employment and Human Resources€14.5 billion ® Productive Sector€7.4 billionBetween 1994 and 1999 another plan known as the Community Support Framework (CSF) saw the investment of €5.62 billion of EU structural funds. A previous CSF plan ran from 1989-1993. The government listed the priorities of the CSF as: ® Priority No 1: The productive sector ® Priority No 2: Economic infrastructure ® Priority No 3: Human resources ® Priority No 4: Local urban and rural development. Each plan is not made independent of the othesr, but seeks to improve upon its predecessor. These plans are development policy blueprints, with which the government hopes to build Ireland’s future. Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation 2006-2013The Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation (SSTI) forms a key component of the current National Development Plan. As the first report of its kind produced in Ireland, it summarises the strategy for the technological future. Namely it proposes an increase in research, higher education capacity and R&D investments. It calls for: Sustained increases in support for: building research excellence in strategic areas; building research capacity to meet the medium-term requirements of enterprise; restructuring of post-graduate training; investment in technology transfer and commercialisation capacity in the third-level sector; and increased participation in trans-national research activity. Significant increases in the number of new doctoral awards in Science, Technology and Engineering and in Humanities and Social Sciences. It aims at roughly doubling the total number of students from 730 in 2005 to an estimated 1,312 in 2013. This increase will be matched by a sustained improvement in the quality of research output as measured by publications and citations. Each research organisation will also have specific targets in relation to research commercialisation and will be benchmarked against leading international institutions. Specific targets for doubling the numbers of indigenous and overseas companies in Ireland doing significant R&D. This will be done with a range of measures set out to increase the absorptive capacity for technology and research of the enterprise base. Specifically the strategy sets a target to double 'the proportion of sales in indigenous enterprises from innovative products and processes introduced in the most recent two years' by 2013. Total government investment of €8.35 billion in research in the higher education and public sectors, and in support of enterprise R&D through Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, over the period of the National Development Plan to 2013. This compares with €2.48 billion under the previous NDP 2000- 2006. Of the additional investment proposed, 56% is being allocated for building research capacity in the third-level sector, 30% for support for enterprise R&D, and the remainder for additional research to support the public policy priorities of various government departments. CITATION For06 1053 (Forfas, 2006) Restructuring of the State Bodies………………………………………………………………………………………In 1994, the Irish authorities restructured the governance of the Information Technology sector. Their action was a reflection of the growth in the ICT sector and it was a call for change in the way government had to work with the industry (notably to influence it in an incremental way). The general restructuring was dealing with all the various components of ICT including the software industry, but not exclusively. The reason for the change had to do with the efficiency of the policies. The government agencies needed to create one single entity that would co-ordinate and control ICT growth, rather than adopting the segmented approached. Before this date, all state administration bodies had the capacity to act totally independently of each other, which showed a lack of coherence in strategic matters, for example ICT, which demanded a clear articulation of a vision for the future. This led to the formation of Forfás, a national policy and advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation. It is responsible for the co-ordination of national policies regarding ICT. It operates through the Office for Science and Technology (OST) of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Under the SSTI, this office will also be responsible for chairing a group comprised of Forfás, IDA, Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. Known as Technology Ireland, it will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of SSTI schemes such as research in technology and innovation. -204470-358140 Figure 3.1: Forfás, its sister agencies and advisory councils Source: Retrieved from Forfás website at www.forfas.ie Government Influences in the Software Industry……………………………………………………………….. Programmes and Policies from the ICT and Software Sector under the NDP 2000-2006 Previous CSF & NDPIndustrial Ass.StandardsPrivate FundsFP6UNI’s & PRI’sSchoolsEU FundsSAPPRTLIR&D CapTFFEXCRTIPATIDAEISFIEGFSNICSTIForfásIRSCETHEAOSTDept of Enterprise, Trade & EmploymentDep. Of Education and ScienceOther Government DepartmentsDepartment of FinanceNational Development Plan Industry Table 3.1: Programmes and policies from the ICT sector under the NDP 2000-2006Source: reproduced from Knowledge Intensive Service Activities in the Irish Software Industry 2002-2005 (OECD) Figure 3.1 depicts how the government, through the National Development Plan, co-ordinates and controls its efforts in the software industry. The two ministries, Education and Trade, work in different branches to serve the industry, and also produce an environment that is conducive to substantially build the business mass of Ireland in the ICT sector.The state maintains a balance between industry and education. Initiatives and funding gets filtered down through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through various government agencies and state bodies directly serving the interests of industry. On the other hand, the government is constantly monitoring the context for higher education and research. Initiatives in this area are more long-term, targeted at up-skilling the labour market through education and research rather than direct financial support to specific industrial activities.The Irish government has excelled in providing a unique infrastructure that allows the science and technology sectors to thrive. This is mainly based on the active work of the state in promoting and supporting entrepreneurship and education (not like for example on army funding in the US to support research and venture capitalism in Silicon Valley Ca.).The following section examines some of the key components in this unique infrastructure, starting with the government agencies under the umbrella of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Forfás, Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Science Foundation Ireland). Following that, this chapter considers the Higher Education Authority and the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, both operated under the Department of Education. ForfásForfás provides the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and other stakeholders with analysis, advice and support on issues related to enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation; including the development and coordination of the enterprise development agencies, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and other bodies as the Minister may designate CITATION For08 1053 (Forfás).For the first time, the Irish government became a truly active partner of the industry in co-ordinating its agencies for the achievement of innovative objectives. With a board composed of 12 members appointed from the industry and state agencies, they elaborate policies for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Since its foundation, Forfás has worked towards affecting the growth in the Information Technology sector in the following ways: » The development of an evolving vision for the future of Irish enterprise through several reports: Shaping our Future (1996) Enterprise 2010 (2000) and Ahead of the Curve, Ireland’s place in the Global Economy (Enterprise Strategy Group (2004), » The establishment of Science Foundation Ireland, recognizing the importance of scientific research for the long-term competitiveness of Irish enterprise as identified through the Technology Foresight process (1999), » The instituting of a new system of governance for science (including the establishment of the office of the Chief Science Adviser to Government) to support the States’ increased scientific research investment, » The development, launch and growth education through of the Discover Science and Engineering programmes, » Informing Government actions to address skills deficits, stemming from Forfás’ support to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, » Government measures to improve framework conditions for Irish enterprise, particularly in the areas of telecoms and transport and drawing from Forfás’ work and support to the National Competitiveness Council in highlighting issues affecting our international competitiveness, » Making changes in the tax system on Forfás’ advice especially regarding how the tax system could be used to support enterprise competitiveness, » The management and delivery of the EMU Business Awareness Campaign, » Strengthening the culture of evaluation and constant improvement in state agenies making their policy interventions relevant to support enterprise development. CITATION For081 1053 (Forfás) Enterprise IrelandEnterprise Ireland is the government agency responsible for the development and promotion of the indigenous business sector CITATION Ent08 1053 (Enterprise Ireland). It focuses on helping Irish owned companies in: a. Achieving export sales. b. Investing in research and innovation – responsible for the allocation of NDP funds to Research in Technology and Innovation (RTI) to indigenous companies. c. Competing through productivity. d. Starting up & scaling up. – The Excellerator (EXC) programme targets high potential startup companies and supports them to achieve international sales capability quickly. e. Driving regional enterprise. Enterprise Ireland was formed in two parts during the 1990s. Firstly, the indigenous sections of the IDA were combined with EOLAS to form a new state body called Forbairt. Then, in 1998 Forbairt merged with the Irish Trade Board to form Enterprise Ireland.Through Enterprise Ireland partnerships between the software industry and third level institutes are developed in Programmes in Advanced Technologies (PAT). They help industry to access new technology; improve the competitiveness of existing production; move into new higher value areas. They also assist industry in attracting overseas and domestic investment in high technology areas that lead to the establishment of new technology based start up companies CITATION Org05 1053 (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2005). Irish Development Authority (IDA)Since 1994 the IDA is solely responsible for working with foreign companies. This includes attracting new investments and expanding investments already within the state. As discussed earlier in chapter 2, the IDA has been responsible for considerable FDI in the software industry of Ireland. It has continued to attract and expand international software companies. In 2007 alone some of its software investment highlights include: - Blizzard Entertainment Inc.., a global leader in the entertainment software industry, established its European customer support center in Cork City. - DeCare Systems Ireland announced its decision to undertake a strategic expansion of its software development center in Cork to increase capacity and offer additional value added in consultancy and software development. - IBM Corporation announced that it will expand its operations in Ireland at the IBM Tivoli software development labs in Cork and Galway. - ACI Worldwide, a leading international provider of software for electronic payment systems, established a new global technical resource center in Limerick. The center will be a value added operation and will create 100 new high level positions in R&D, Software, Technical Support and Finance. - Solarwinds, of Texas, US, a leading provider of network management software, established it EMEA Headquarters in City Gate in Cork. The EMEA HQ, Solarwinds Software Europe Limited was set up to develop and support the company’s international growth. - VMware, the global leader in software for industry-standard virtualized desktops and servers, expanded it’s EMEA Technical Support Center in Ballincollig Cork. - Pramerica Systems Ireland Ltd expanded its software development and customer service center in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. With the expansion, Pramerica will continue to deliver high quality IT, project management, business and systems analyses, software development and quality assurance testing, call center and transaction services to all of Pramerica’s business groups. CITATION IDA08 1053 (IDA Ireland, 2008) IDA Ireland in co-operation with Enterprise Ireland also works to increase companies’ research and development capabilities as well as allocating National Development Plan funds for research in technology and innovation. Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)SFI is responsible for investing in academic researchers and research teams who are most likely to generate new knowledge, leading edge technologies and competitive enterprises in the fields of science and engineering. SFI also advances co-operative efforts among education, government, and industry that support its fields of emphasis and promotes Ireland’s ensuing achievements around the world CITATION Sci08 1053 (Science Foundation Ireland). Under the National Development Plan of 2000 to 2006 the SFI was responsible for an investment of €711 million, known as the Technology Foresight Fund. This fund targeted two areas, Biotechnology and ICT. At the time it was the single biggest investment made in the history of the state in research and development. It was designed to speed Ireland’s transition into the information age. Science Foundation Ireland is a key organisation in the implementation of the NDP 2007-2013 and the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013. A sum of €8.2 billion has been allocated for scientific research under the NDP and SSTI of which SFI has responsibility to invest €1.4 billion. Higher Education AuthorityThe Higher Education Authority is the statutory planning and policy development body for higher education and research in Ireland. The HEA has wide advisory powers throughout the whole of the third-level education sector. In addition, it is the funding authority for the universities, institutes of technology and a number of designated higher education institutions. Under the National Development Plan and other initiatives, the HEA is nurturing a prominent role for research, in facilitating the generation and exploitation of new knowledge. Increasingly, the higher education sector is becoming the key player underpinning the national innovation system CITATION Placeholder1 1053 (Higher Education Authority, 2008). The HEA is responsible for the Programme for Research for Third Level Institutes (PRTLI). Beginning in 1998, this saw an investment of €865 million into the research capabilities, the human capital and knowledge capital of Ireland. This fund encourages greater inter-institutional and institutional/industry collaboration. More specific to the software industry, the HEA also administers technology sector research. The HEA plays a vital role in servicing the needs of and shaping the Irish economy. Embark Initiative: Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET)IRCSET is an independent and autonomous body established under the aegis of the Minister for Education and Science. The members of the council are not representing their employing organisation; rather they are presenting their individual knowledge and experience and applying these to the advancement of research in Ireland. The Council is aided in its work by administrative support from the Higher Education Authority and by close collaboration with other funding agencies such as the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences CITATION Iri083 1053 (Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology). The Embark Initiative is operated by IRCSET. Funded by the State under the National Development Plan, the Embark Initiative is aimed at knowledge creation for the long term benefit of society and the economy. Embark works as an incubator agency aiming to fund people and ideas, providing direct financial support for researchers & research students. Its programmes do not target research projects with an industrial or economic focus, but instead aim to support researchers in exploring ideas and bringing visions to reality. The emphasis is on innovative, original and exploratory research, aimed at generating new knowledge and energising Ireland's future growth, development and national competitiveness CITATION Iri082 1053 (Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology). Industry Associations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC)The Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC): provides a wide range of services to over 7,500 member businesses and organisations from all sectors and of all sizes; is the umbrella body for Ireland’s leading industry groups and associations; is the national voice of Irish business and employers. IBEC works to shape policies and influence decision-making in a way that develops and protects members' interests and contributes to the development and maintenance of an economy that promotes enterprise and productive employment. IBEC offers a number of direct services including providing expert information and advice on issues from employment law to compliance with health and safety. IBEC represents its members' interests to Government, state agencies, the trade unions, other national interest groups, and the general public. Through its Brussels office, IBEC works on behalf of business and employers at European level to ensure that European policy is compatible with its own objectives for the development of the Irish economy CITATION Placeholder2 1053 (Irish Business and Employers Confederation).ICT IrelandIn 2001, following extensive consultation with industry leaders in the high-tech sector, IBEC took a decision to establish a major new representative lobby group for the sector. ICT Ireland was launched in May 2001 and brings together under one banner the following organisations, each of which are active across this diverse sector. Audiovisual Federation - AF Consumer Electronic Distributors Association - CEDA Irish Cellular Industry Association - ICIA Irish Software Association - ISA Telecommunications and Internet Federation - TIF White Goods Association ICT Ireland is the voice of the information and communications technology sector in Ireland CITATION ICT08 1053 (ICT Ireland). Irish Software Association (ISA)The Irish Software Association (ISA), which has represented the interests of software and IT service companies in Ireland since 1978, is the leading voice of software technology and service in Ireland. It promotes the interests of the software and IT services industry and provides member companies with access to a number of key stakeholders and services. The ISA assists software companies to start, manage and grow their companies with a view to enabling members to become successful internationally. The ISA operates its strategy to benefit its members in four key areas: Scale Capabilities, Innovation/Commercialisation, Indigenous Procurement and Voice to Government. The ISA also provides training in association with Skillnets on relevant topics such as sales and marketing, product management and technical skills.In 2006, the ISA in partnership with Momentum (the Northern Ireland ICT trade body) and InterTradeIreland launched the All-Island Software Network project. This is an initial two year project focusing on building the scale of the software industry across the island. The project focuses on collaboration between companies, existing groupings and networks to enhance their potential to build their businesses through extending their market scope CITATION Iri081 1053 (Irish Software Association). 4 The Software Industry in Detail This chapter attempts to piece together scattered information from various sources to give an overview of the modern Irish software market. It presents a breakdown of the industry in 2005 and a breakdown of exports of Irish computer services by destination 2005. Followed by this some macro-economic indicators such as, size of firms, type of firms and software specialization in the industry are examined. This chapter draws a lot from an OECD mail survey completed in 2003 in Knowledge Intense Service Activities in the Irish Software Industry by Laura E. Martinez-Solano, Majella Giblin and Edel Walshe (2005). It finishes by describing the current climate of productivity and competitiveness in Ireland by analyzing the 2008 Eurostat publication. A Break-Down of the Irish Software Industry in 2005……………………………………………………… The Software Industry in 2005IndigenousForeign OwnedTotal IndustryNumber of Enterprises760140900Numbers Employed15,00024,00039,000Exports€1.6 Billion€13.4 Billion€15 Billion Table 4.1: The software industry in 2005In 2004, the Software Industry was estimated to have 900 enterprises. 140 of them were foreign multinationals employing 24,000 people CITATION Sha04 1053 (Shannon Development, 2004). Around 760 indigenous software companies employed over 15,000 people throughout Ireland. Turnover in the software industry was €15 billion in 2004. The indigenous sector produced around €1.6 billion of this total. 60% of all software sold in Europe originated in Ireland. The sector showed 12.1% sales growth from 2004 to 2005, and 13.9% export growth from 2004 to 2005. The market’s size constituted a significant barrier to growth; most companies produced revenues of between $1m and of $5m. The relatively small size of the domestic Irish market meant that the majority of indigenous software companies were small or medium enterprises (SMEs). Approximately 75% of indigenous firms had less than 25 employees CITATION Iri084 1053 (Irish Software Association, 2008). About 250 of these indigenous firms had significant international sales CITATION Org06 1053 (Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development, 2006).Exports of Computer Services by Location 2005………………………………………………………………The figures for software exports alone is not recorded in the Irish balance of payments but is recorded as part of “computer services”. The computer services component consists of hardware and software-related services, and data processing services. Included are hardware and software consultancy and implementation services; maintenance and repair of computers and peripheral equipment; disaster recovery services, provision of advice and assistance on matters related to the management of computer resources; analysis, design and programming of systems ready to use (including web page development and design), and technical consultancy related to software; development, production, supply and documentation of customised software, including operating systems made to order for specific users; translation and localisation services; systems maintenance and other support services, such as training provided as part of consultancy; data-processing services, such as data entry, tabulation and processing on a time-sharing basis; web page hosting services; and computer facilities management. Sales and purchases of software transmitted electronically are recorded under computer services. Excluded from computer services are the export/import of packaged (non-customised) software which is embedded in hardware or carried on other physical media. This software is classified as merchandise in the official foreign trade statistics. In valuing these services reporters are asked to include the value of software licence fees received (exports) or paid (imports). This is a conscious CSO departure from the international standards, which require that such licence fees be included under the service item royalties/licence fees. The treatment described was adopted in order to facilitate users in analysing the contribution of computer software producers to the economy.From analyzing this figure (table 4.2) in the balance of payments section it is possible to get an idea of where Ireland exports its software to. Region/CountryExports 2005Region/CountryExports 2005Europe Of Which14,068USA532EU2512,802Asia716UK3,337Africa238France1,470Not Geographically Allocated-82Germany2,961Total15,755Italy919Netherlands1,157Spain559Table 4.2: Computer services exports by locations 2005Source: Provided by request by the balance of payments division of the central statistics office of IrelandBelgium542Luxembourg5Switzerland489 Europe is clearly the biggest destination for computer services exports from Ireland with approximately 90% of exports. Within Europe €12,802 billion of exports go to fellow EU members. The most significant markets are the UK €3,337, Germany €2,961 and France €1,470 billion. Outside of Europe, the developing markets of Asia are Ireland’s biggest computer services export destination worth €716 million. Although the US maybe Ireland’s biggest source of ICT investments, as a market it only represents 3.4% of computer services exports with €532 million. Africa accounts for €238 million. Overview of Firms in the Software Industry ………………………………………………………………………. Currently there are approximately 900 (760 indigenous and 140 foreign) firms are in the Irish software Industry. In 2003, a mail survey was conducted of 808 companies operating within the Irish software market for an OECD country report on knowledge intense activity (see Martinez-Solano, Giblin, & Walshe, 2005). It had a total of 274 responses which if combined with the estimated population of 900 hundred companies means the survey represents a 30.4% of the entire software Industry of Ireland. The report produced the following findings: » The software industry consisted mainly of micro (less than 10 employees) or small-sized companies (between 10 and 49 employees) characterizing 86.1% of the sample » Medium-sized companies (between 50 and 249 employees) represent 10.2% » Large–sized companies (more than 249 employees) only 1.5%. Table 4.3: OECD survey respondents classified by size of company (%of total respondents)Reproduced from Knowledge Intense Service Activities in the Irish Software Industry (2005) In terms of company ownership: » 73.7% of the survey respondents are fully Irish-owned, » 10.9% are wholly foreign-owned, » 9.9% foreign minority holders, » 3.6% joint venture and » 1.5% have other forms of investment. (Martinez-Solano et al.)Table 4.4: OECD Survey respondents classified by nature of company (%of total respondents)Reproduced from Knowledge Intense Service Activities in the Irish Software Industry (2005) When the report combined the two sets of data it found that: » 93.1% of the Irish owned firms are micro (54%) or small-sized, but none of them are categorized as large-sized. » Foreign-owned firms have larger numbers of employees than their indigenous counterparts, » 67% of the wholly owned foreign firms are micro (26.7%) or small, 26.7% are classified as medium and 6.6% as large. (Martinez-Solano et al.) Table 4.5: OECD Survey - wholly Irish owned and foreign owned firms classified by size.Reproduced from Knowledge Intense Service Activities in the Irish Software Industry (2005) Software Specialisation……………………………………………………………………………………………………… To pinpoint the exact activity that takes place in the Irish software sector is impossible, as this data is not recorded, but it is possible to piece together information from various sources that may give the reader an idea. The Irish software industry spans a wide range of market segments due to the broad base of companies in the sector. It has particular strengths in system’s software and middleware; insurance and banking applications, telecommunications software, e-learning, and healthcare CITATION Ent081 1053 (Enterprise Ireland). According to an OECD publication in 2002, Ireland’s software development was happening in the following areas CITATION Org021 1053 (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2002):Table 4.6: Areas of software development in Ireland 2002 Source OECD 2002 One third of software development was happening in Digital Media/E-Learning and one quarter in software tools/system software. There was also strong software development in banking and finance at 19%.The mail survey conducted for the OECD in 2003 also sought to classify the type of software activity companies were involved in (see Martinez-Solano, Giblin, & Walshe, 2005). The following were again their findings. They categorized the firms according to core (system’s software, programming languages and tools, data management/data mining) and non-core (software services and bespoke development, application’s software, localization services) software technologies. The core technology category is considered to be of the highest value to the Irish Software Industry by providing the potential to build internationally competitive firms in terms of their global positioning, market share and growth CITATION Mik02 1053 (Crone, 2002). The number of companies participating in the core technology sectors is significantly lower than that in the non-core technology sectors. Within the core technologies categorization, 21.9% of respondents developed system’s software while 6.2% engaged in data management and data mining and 4% of respondents develop programming languages and tools. However, it was observed that a higher percentage of firms engaged in non-core technologies, with 50% of companies developing applications software, 26.3% offering bespoke software development and services, and just 3.3% were engaged in localization activities. (Martinez-Solano et al.)Table 4.7: OECD survey respondents classified by core technologies (% of companies) Reproduced from Knowledge Intense Service Activities in the Irish Software Industry (2005) Table 4.8: OECD survey respondents classified by non-core technologies (% of companies) Reproduced from Knowledge Intense Service Activities in the Irish Software Industry (2005) Differences between the indigenous and foreign companies of the Irish software industry were observed when analyzing their core and non-core technology product and services. In general, the Irish firms surveyed provide both core and non-core technologies but are more heavily involved in non-core technology sectors. In the core technologies 17.8% offer system’s software technology, 7.9% data management and 4.5% programming languages. In the non-core technology, a significant number of Irish firms (51%) offer applications software but also 25.7% sell bespoke software, 21.3% software services, and 3% localization software. In contrast, foreign firms do not participate in the whole range of identified technology sectors. Within the core technology sector they specialize highly in system’s software technology (40%) but none of them sell the other two core technologies. However, within the non-core categorization foreign firms have some participation in all areas since 33.3% operate in the applications software sector, 26.7% in the bespoken software and 6.7% in the localization software. (Martinez-Solano et al.) Core and non-core technology companies classified by nature of investment (% of companies)Table 4.9: OECD Survey - Core and non-core technology companies classified by nature of investment (% of companies) Reproduced from Knowledge Intense Service Activities in the Irish Software Industry (2005) The report also observed that depending on a company’s size, it affected whether it was involved in core or non-core technology activities. Most of the Irish companies involved in the core technologies are micro and small-sized, while medium and large indigenous firms are mainly involved in the non-core technology sectors. However, in the case of foreign firms the results were slightly different. Foreign involvement in the core (system’s software) technology sector consisted of mainly small and medium-sized firms, while most micro and medium-sized companies were involved in non-core technology. In fact, 63% of foreign companies that participate in non-core (application software) technology were medium-sized. (Martinez-Solano et al.) Small-sized core and non-core technology companies classified by nature of investment (% of companies) Table 4.10: OECD Survey - Small-sized core and non-core technology companies classified by nature of investment (%of companies) Reproduced from Knowledge Intense Service Activities in the Irish Software Industry (2005) Medium-sized core and non-core technology companies classified by nature of investment (% of companies) Table 4.11: OECD Survey - Medium-sized core and non-core technology companies classified by nature of investment (%of companies)Reproduced from Knowledge Intense Service Activities in the Irish Software Industry (2005) Irelands Productivity and Competitiveness in Knowledge Intense Industries………………………The context in which the software industry now operates has changed as much as the software industry itself. It is important that Ireland’s current economic situation, with regards to productivity and competitiveness in knowledge intense industries, is presented in order to gain a broader picture of the environment in which the software industry has been developed. An insight into Ireland’s productivity and competitiveness in knowledge intense industries can be gained by examining the latest Eurostat publication under the following four headings: innovation, patents, high-tech & knowledge services and research and development investment.InnovationInnovation is defined as a new or significantly improved product (good or service) introduced to the market or a new or significantly improved process introduced within an enterprise. Innovations are based on the results of new technological developments, new combinations of existing technology or utilisation of other knowledge acquired by the enterprise. Innovative Enterprises as a total number of enterprises 2004CountryPercentage of Innovative EnterprisesTotal NumberGermany65.1 65 896Ireland52.2 3 222U.K.43.0 36 629France32.6 28 170 Table 4.12: Innovative enterprises as a total number of enterprises 2004Source Eurostat 2008 The Eurostat data is based on the work of the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) 2004. This is a survey conducted every 4 years by European member states to monitor Europe’s progress on innovation. Ireland has scored highly in innovation in recent CIS surveys, leading the way with a 73% proportion of its manufacturing area being innovators, and a 58% proportion in the services area being innovators CITATION Eur96 1053 (European Commission, 1996). Ireland was ranked 3rd highest for the number of innovative enterprises in the 2004 survey, behind Germany with 65.1% and Austria with 52.5%. This represented 3,222 innovative enterprises in Ireland and a total of 282,268 employees. However, this is a negative trend for Ireland. For this reason Ireland is considered an innovation follower along with the United States, United Kingdom, Iceland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria. These countries are more innovation efficient then the EU 25 average, but their trend is declining. PatentsPatents reflect part of a country’s inventive activity. Patents also show the country’s ability to exploit knowledge and translate it into potential economic gains. In this context, indicators based on patent statistics are widely used to assess the inventive performance of the country or region CITATION Com 1053 (European Commission, 2008). Patent Applications to the EPO 2003CountryPatents per million InhabitantsTotal PatentsForeign ownership in patent applications as a percentageGermany31225 72816%US16848 78611%EU 2513662 19115%UK1217 21736%Ireland7730639% Table 4.13: Patent applications to the EPO 2003Source Eurostat 2008 Ireland lags behind for the number of patent applications to the European Patent Organization (EPO) with 77 per million inhabitants compared to the EU 25 average of 136. It also has a rate of foreign ownership of domestic inventions in patent applications to the EU that is more than twice the EU average at 39%. Both these figures reflect the nature of industry in Ireland. It is heavily weighted with foreign owned companies and investments. High-tech and Knowledge ServicesHigh-Technology sectors are key drivers for economic growth, productivity and welfare and are generally a source of high value added and well-paid employment CITATION Com 1053 (European Commission, 2008). As of 2003, Ireland had 309 enterprises engaged in high-tech manufacturing and 4,971 enterprises engaged in high-tech, knowledge intense services. Ireland has a larger proportion of enterprises engaged in knowledge intense services to enterprises engaged in high-tech manufacturing than the EU average ratio of these two. Economic Statistics on High-Tech Sectors 2003Number of enterprises engaged in high-tech manufacturingNumber of enterprises engaged in high-tech knowledge intense servicesEU 27137 748545 031Ireland3094 971UK11 404133 935Germany19 98753 335 Table 4.14: Number of enterprises engaged in high-tech manufacturing and knowledge intense services 2003Source Eurostat 2008 In Europe, the average production value of an enterprise in all high-tech industries was €1.9 million. Ireland led the way with €7.5 million per enterprise. This was noted by the Eurostat report as being influenced to some extent by foreign ownership of enterprises, outsourcing of activities and accounting practices of international companies CITATION Com 1053 (European Commission, 2008). Research and Development InvestmentHistorically Ireland has had poor commitments to research and development with a fluctuating trend in R&D investments. However, it has been improving in recent times (see table 4.15). As of 2004, Ireland now has a tax relief system specifically designed to stimulate research and development on the island in which portions of the research and development costs can be written off against taxes. This is partly a response to Ireland’s previous low levels of R&D, which were below EU and OECD averages. Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a Percentage of GDP/GNP 1996-2006199619982000200220042006(Forfás estimation)OECD2.10%2.15%2.34%2.24%2.25%2.26%EU 251.68%1.70%1.77%1.79%1.77%1.77%GERD/GNPIreland1.46%1.41%1.32%1.36%1.48%1.56%GERD/GDPIreland1.29%1.24%1.12%1.11%1.25%1.34% Table 4.15: Gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a percentage of GDP/GNP 1996-2006 Reproduced from (Roche, 2006) Sources: Derived from the survey of business expenditures on R&D 2005/06(Forfás); survey of R&D in the higher education sector, 2004 (Forfás); State expenditure on science & technology and research and development 2005 and 2006 (Forfás) and the main science and technology indicators, 2002 and 2006 (OECD).Despite Ireland’s poor R&D record, figures for R&D within the software industry were strong. 39% of R&D by indigenous and 22% of R&D by foreign firms was carried out in the area of software in 2001 CITATION Int04 1053 (Inter Departmental Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, 2004). In 2006 software was the largest sector of business related expenditure on R&D. It accounted for 30.4% of the total, or €404.1 million CITATION Placeholder3 1053 (Forfas, 2006). This is a high proportion considering available data shows that in 2006 only 8% of R&D by foreign firms outside the EU was in the area of software CITATION Com 1053 (European Commission, 2008). 5 Problems, Profiles and the Future of the Irish Software Industry This chapter begins by raising some of the industry problems facing the Irish software industry. After this it profiles some of the companies operating in the sector. This more qualitative approach is aimed to giving the reader a better feel for the industry. The chapter and the thesis closes by speculating on the future of the Irish software Industry. Industry Problems………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Lack of software graduatesThe pace of growth within the software industry and ICT in general has outstripped Ireland’s ability to produce the skilled graduates it needs. Coupled with this, the numbers studying computing have fallen dramatically following the downturn in the ICT industry. As can be seen in Table 5.1, graduate numbers peaked in 2002 and 2003 and then dropped considerably over the next few years. No. of Honours Bachelor Degrees Awarded and Projected to be Awarded 2002-2010 200220032004200520062007200820092010TotalComputing2,1452,1001,9891,5871,2121,2171,0331,1171,236TotalElectronicEngineering873804574531456398403466389Source: Analysis and modelling by Publica Consulting and McIver Consulting, based on data extracted by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit of FÁS, and on microdata provided by CAO. Table 5.1: No. of honours bachelor degrees awarded and projected to be awarded 2002-2010Reproduced from Future Requirements for High-Level ICT Skills in the ICT Sector 2008The downturn in the ICT market that occurred from 2000/01 had a major impact on the labour market in the ICT sector. While the impact was greatest among relatively low skilled people, particularly those employed in the electronics hardware subsector, people with high-level ICT skills were also affected. There were substantial net job losses in software and a number of other areas. Even in subsectors where there were no net job losses, career prospects often appeared diminished. There was a significant level of job turnover as new graduates continued to enter the sector, and as some job losses were offset by gains in other companies. Many of those employed in the sector went from great optimism about job prospects to being worried about job and career security. While school leavers and their parents were probably influenced in part by newspaper headlines relating primarily to the loss of low skilled ICT sector jobs, the likelihood is that word of mouth about current labour market realities seen by high-level ICT staff also had a major impact on choices made by school leavers, and by graduates who might otherwise have undertaken graduate diploma conversion courses. (Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, 2008) The lack of graduates will lead to a skills gap that will threaten the future of the industry if not addressed. Over Dependence upon Foreign InvestmentsThe Software Industry in Ireland is for the most part not very Irish. As with most of the Irish economy it is very heavily dependent upon investments from outside its borders. Foreign owned companies account for approximately 90% of exports and 60% of employment in the sector. Ireland attracted €2.3 billion worth of FDI through the Irish Development Authority in 2007. This dependence on foreign investment is unavoidable for a small open economy like Irelands, but it does bring with it a number of negatives: » Profits will get repatriated to the parent company’s home country. » These foreign investments can lead to a crowding out effect of indigenous software companies. New companies will find it difficult to compete with already established multinationals. » If there is a global market downturn for FDI then Ireland will be one of the heaviest losers. For instance in 2007, Ireland recorded a drop of 5% in new Foreign Direct Investment projects. The corresponding fall for jobs created was 40% (EconomyWatch, 2008). Ireland and its software sector is particularly dependent on US investment. US Investment in Ireland – The FactsNearly 33% of all manufacturing inward investment in Ireland originates from the US. Nearly 50% of all US software investment locates in Ireland.Over 60% of all R&D centers established in Ireland emanate from US companies.75% of all customer contact centers in Ireland emanate from US companies.Over 60% of shared services projects emanate from US companies.The majority of ICT and Pharmaceutical/Medical Technologies investments in Ireland originate from US companies.The current climate of the weakening US dollar represents trouble for the Irish software sector. Inability of Indigenous Software Companies to Grow.The single biggest challenge for indigenous software companies is the ability to create the scale necessary to compete successfully in global markets CITATION Iri06 1053 (Irish Software Association, 2006). Due to the relatively small size of the Irish market, indigenous software firms have to target entering foreign market places from their inception. ”We have a small domestic market for software so you have to internationalize at very early stage, at about €1 million or even less.” - Bernie Cullinan, chairwoman of the Irish Software Association - quoted from the Sunday Business Post September 4th, 2005. This represents a major obstacle when it comes to the company’s funding. To grow a software company outside of Ireland you need to invest heavily at the start-up phase and not many institutions are willing to invest that type of money in such high risk startup companies. Loss of Competitive Performance. Increase in labour costs per Employee in private sector (% increase) 2005-2008Country/year2005200620072008(forecast)Euro area1.21.82.42.8France3.13.43.33.1Germany-0.11.31.32.3Ireland5.15.04.43.9Source: OECD Statistical Database Table 5.2: Labour cost per employee in private sector (% of increase) 2005-2008 Reproduced from the Irish Hotels Federation press release 2nd March 2008.Ireland has experienced a loss of international price competitiveness, reflecting higher price inflation and an appreciation of the Euro against currencies of our trading partners. Ireland is now the second most expensive location for consumers in the EU-15 and has the 3rd highest inflation rate. Non-pay costs in Ireland compare poorly with other countries across a range of cost types. These include: property costs (both purchase and rental), utilities costs (from electricity to water and waste), mobile communications costs and a range of domestic services, such as accountancy, information technology and legal services. CITATION Nat071 1053 (National Competitiveness Council, 2007) A number of factors have contributed to this (see Cassidy & O'Brien, 2007): - Over the period 1999-2006, Irish consumer prices (HICP) increased by around 28 %, compared to just over 15% for the EU-15. - Service prices are over 20% above the EU-15 average, with particularly high pr

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